Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the William H. Kessler Papers on Michael Heizer Sculpture Project for Michigan State Capitol Complex, circa 1969-1981, in the Archives of American Art.

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.kesswill
Creators:
Kessler, William H., 1924-2002
Dates:
circa 1969-1981
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.4 Linear feet
Repository:
The papers of architect William H. Kessler measure 0.4 linear feet and date from circa 1969 to 1981. Included are correspondence, business records, a project file, printed material, and photographic material relating to Kessler's service on the [Michigan] Special Commission of Art in State Buildings, and the Commission's pilot project, a sculpture by Michael Heizer for the West Plaza of the State Capitol Complex in Lansing.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The papers of architect William H. Kessler measure 0.4 linear feet and date from circa 1969 to 1981. Included are correspondence, business records, a project file, printed material, and photographic material relating to Kessler's service on the [Michigan] Special Commission of Art in State Buildings, and the Commission's pilot project, a sculpture by Michael Heizer for the West Plaza of the State Capitol Complex in Lansing.
Correspondence is with Xavier Fourcade, Inc., New York City, Kresge Foundation, Governor William G. Milliken, Mott Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, and others, regarding the Heizer sculpture. Business records include commission meeting agendas and minutes, financial reports, and lists of benefactors to the Heizer sculpture project. The Heizer Sculpture File contains biographical data on Heizer, descriptions of his sculpture design, a copy of the plaza plan, the sculpture dedication program, and other printed material. Printed material consists of newspaper clippings. Photographic material includes photographs, slides, and negatives of Heizer and his sculpture, "This Equals That."

Arrangement

Arrangement
Due to the small size of this collection the papers are arranged as one series.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
William H. Kessler (1924-2002) was an architect active in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from the Chicago Institute of Design in 1948, and the Harvard Graduate School of Design in 1950. Kessler later started his own eponymous architecture firm and became a member of the Michigan Special Commission on Art in State Buildings.

Administration

Author
Caroline Donadio
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The papers were donated by William H. Kessler in 1982.
Processing Information
The collection was processed after donation and a finding aid was written by Caroline Donadio in 2018.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center.
Preferred Citation
William H. Kessler papers on Michael Heizer sculpture project for Michigan State Capitol Complex, circa 1969-1981. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Architects -- Michigan -- Detroit Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sculptors Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Heizer, Michael, 1944- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Michigan. Special Commission on Art in State Buildings Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives of American Art
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